North Narrabeen local Jordy Lawler etched his name into Northern Beaches surfing history as he claimed his first Challenger Series victory in front of a wild home crowd who will be celebrating their hero’s victory all through the night.
Jordy admitted he had been in a difficult place mentally after not qualifying for the Challenger Series this year and had considered quitting competitive surfing. He entered the GWM Sydney Surf Pro as a wildcard and went all the way, taking the win over Alejo Muniz. Jordy showed a variety of progressive aerial surfing and powerful turns at a wave he knows better than anyone.
The Australian will now be in with a strong chance of receiving another wildcard to the next Challenger event as he reignites his dream of making the CT.
On the women’s side, Isabella Nichols claimed back-to-back titles at Narrabeen as she saved her best surfing till last, ousting goofy-footer Erin Brooks who looked destined to make it three CS wins in a row, after winning on the Gold Coast earlier this month.
In contrast to Snapper, the focus at Narrabeen was often on one major manoeuvre on the menacing end section which offered some free chiropractic adjustments throughout the event.
Finals day started with the men’s quarters which was an air show. The standout heat being Eli Hanneman against local boy Jordy.
Eli looked like the man to beat throughout the event, with his smaller stature and tight whippy surfing suiting the beach break pockets of Narrabeen really well. Throughout QF 3 Eli continued to take to the air, landing backside rotations with incredible ease. However, Jordy had a similar weapon in his arsenal and on one particular left he hit the first section with a re-entry and followed it up with a lofty front side full rotation. He stuck it and the North Narrabeen boardriders erupted on the beach.
When he dropped a 9.43 with a minute to go, he threw a fist bump in the air to celebrate the wave. It was a rare show of raw passion from Jordy who had looked calm and calculated all week. However, it must have been hard to keep that emotion locked up as he tried to harness the home crowd energy and not get too ahead of himself.
In the women’s semi-finals, Erin Brooks took a leaf out of the men’s book and popped a front side full rotation of her own against Nadia Erostarbe, earning herself a 9.57. Erin already had the Basque country surfer combo’d, totally dominating the heat and the air was just the icing on the cake. The 16-year-old continues to provide standout moments as she spearheads the Gen-Z charge on the CS.
In a repeat of last year’s final at Narrabeen, Isabella Nichols and Sally Fitzgibbons battled it out and once again Isabella got the jump on the competitive veteran.
In the men’s semi-finals Alejo Muniz continued to display his raw backhand attack as he earnt himself a pair of 7’s and defeated his fellow countrymen Miguel Pupo. This put him in the final against Jordy who beat Frenchmen Gatien Delahaye in SF 2.
The women’s final took to the water first and Isabella saved her best surfing till last as she brought to a halt Erin Brooks’ winning streak. Isabella earned herself a pair of 7’s in the final for some solid backhand power surfing. The ferociousness of her turns was a point of difference against Erin. Isabella’s taller stature allowed her to lean into her turns and throw more spray off the rail.
Erin couldn’t be dismissed though. With three minutes to go she needed an 8.17 and went for broke, throwing a full rotation and almost landing it. The elation from the crowd, which was cut short as she fell, caused Bella to put her head in her hands as she feared the worst.
Following the win Erin helped chair Nichols up the beach in a great show of comradery between the pair who had been staying together at Matt Grainger’s house throughout the comp. The gesture from 16-year-old Erin was an accurate representation of the maturity she consistently shows in both her personality and her surfing.
In the men’s final Jordy put his repertoire on full display. He consistently built throughout the final, gaining multiple 7 point rides for both full rotation airs and a combination of tail blows and fin throws.
With less than 10 minutes to go, Alejo needed a 9.59 and he once again showcased his backhand attack, gaining a pair of 7’s which shortened the requirement for him. But ultimately, he was unable to claw his way back.
Wildcard Jordy now enters the CS rankings in 4th, while Alejo climbs seven spots to 2nd. Erin Brooks sits atop the women’s rankings and Isabella is hot on her heels in second.
The CS now takes a break before heading to Ballito in July.
